This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 179460d44a79 · verified 2026-06-08 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 1 of 9
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
OF THE TOWN OF TWO HILLS
(hereinafter referred to as "the Town of Two Hills")
IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA
A BYLAW OF THE TOWN OF TWO HILLS, IN THE PROVINCE OF ALBERTA,
TO REGULATE AND CONTROL DOMESTICATED ANIMALS WITHINTHE TOWN OF
TWO HILLS
WHEREAS the Animal Control Bylaw regulates and controls domesticated
animals in the corporate limits of the Town of Two Hills;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Town of Two Hills wishes to regulate the
running at large of dogs and cats in the Town of Two Hills,
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Town of Two Hills deems it expedient to
license dogs and cats in the Town of Two Hills;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Town of Two Hills wishes to regulate the
keeping of other domestic animals;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Municipal Government Act RSA 2000,
Chapter M-26, Section 7 (h), as may be amended from time to time, authorizes the
Council of the Town of Two Hills to pass such a bylaw;
NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Town of Two Hills in duly assembled open
meeting enacts as follows:
TITLE
1.
This bylaw may be cited as "The Animal Control Bylaw".
DEFINITIONS
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 2 of 9
2.
In the bylaw,
(a)
"Animal Control Officer" shall mean any person or persons duly authorized
by the Town of Two Hills to enforce the provisions of this bylaw, including,
but not limited to, the pound keeper;
(b)
"animal shelter" shall mean the premises designated by the Town for the
purpose of impounding and caring for all dogs, cats, and domestic animals
found running at large within the limits of the Town;
(c)
"Town" shall mean the Municipal Corporation of the Town of Two Hills;
(d)
"running at large" shall mean any dog, cat or domestic animal that is off the
property of its owner or harbourer and is not on a leash and under the
effective control of a responsible person. The phrase "at large", when used
in this bylaw, shall be synonymous with "running at large";
(e)
"cat" shall mean any member of the species Felis catus of Felis domesticus
(Felidae);
(f)
"communicable disease" shall mean such diseases that can by passed from
dog, cat or domestic animal to a human being or to other dogs, cats or
domestic animals and shall include but not be limited to distemper, rabies,
parvo and parainfluenza;
(g)
"dog" shall mean any member of the species Canidae;
(h)
"domestic animal" shall mean such animals that are tame and kept by
humans as pets, other than livestock;
(i)
"livestock" shall mean domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting
to produce labor and commodities such as meat, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and
wool;
(j)
"owner" shall mean a person or group of persons, partnership or association,
who has legal title to the dog, cat or domestic animal, and includes any
person who has possession or custody or harbours the dog, cat or domestic
animal on his premises, either temporarily or permanently;
(k)
"Peace Officer" shall mean:
i.
a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police; or,
ii.
a special constable or bylaw enforcement officer employed by the
Town of Two Hills;
(l)
"Town Council" shall mean the duly elected Town Council for the Municipal
Corporation of the Town of Two Hills;
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 3 of 9
(m) "kennel license" shall mean such license issued to a person who owns more
than two (2) cats and two (2) dogs, whether the owner breeds the animals or
not;
(n)
"S.P.C.A." shall mean the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in
the Province of Alberta;
(o)
"vicious dog" shall mean any dog which:
i.
shows a propensity, disposition or potential to attack, or injure,
without provocation, humans, or other animals,
ii.
is a continuing threat of serious harm to humans or other animals,
iii.
without provocation, chases any person in a threatening manner,
iv.
has inflicted a serious wound upon a human or upon a domestic
animal or livestock without provocation,
v.
is deemed to be dangerous by justice under the provisions of the
Dangerous Dogs Act RSA 2000, Chapter D-3 and amendments
thereto,
vi.
is owned or harboured for the purpose of dog fighting, or
vii.
is a guard dog; however
a dog shall not be deemed vicious if it bites, attacks or menaces a trespasser
on the property of its owner or harms or menaces anyone who has
tormented or abused it.
LICENSING
3.
(a)
Any person owning, or harbouring or possessing a dog or cat over the age
of six (6) months within the Town of Two Hills shall be liable to pay a license
fee for the dog or cat as set out in the attached Schedule "A".
(b)
The license shall be valid only for the year issued and shall be due on or
before the 31st day of January of each year, or on any day during the year
when the animal comes to six (6) months of age or into the possession of a
resident of Two Hills and is kept within the Town limits.
(c)
Dog or cat licenses may be obtained at the Town Office, which, upon receipt
of payment of the license fee, shall issue to the owner a tag for each dog or
cat licensed.
(d)
The license tag shall be attached to a collar on the dog or cat to be worn at
all times when the animal is in public. The license shall be deemed invalid if
not worn by the animal.
(e)
No refund or rebate shall be made on any paid license fee.
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 4 of 9
(f)
The license issuer for the Town shall keep record of the following data:
i.
Name and address of owner;
ii.
Breed, colour, sex and name of owner's dog or cat;
iii.
Date of registration of owner's dog(s) or cat(s);
iv.
Number stamped on each license tag issued to owner; and,
v.
Amount of license fee paid by owner.
(g)
A license shall be issued free of charge annually to the owners of dogs
trained by a recognized agency to provide assistance to a person with a
physical impairment if the owner used the dog for such assistance.
(h)
Where a license is lost, a replacement may be obtained at the Town Office
upon payment of the license tag replacement fee as set out in Schedule "A".
(i)
Dog licenses are not required by persons temporarily in Town for a period
not exceeding two (2) weeks.
(j)
No person may own or harbour more than two (2) dogs and two (2) cats
older than six (6) months at any one time unless a kennel license is approved
by the Animal Control Officer. Obtaining a kennel license relieves the owner
from having to pay for individual licenses for each animal owned or
harboured. However, the owner must still obtain a tag from the town for
each animal owned or harboured and inform the Animal Control Officer of
any changes if and when they occur.
RESPONSIBILITY PROVISIONS
4.
It shall be the responsibility of all owners of dogs, cats or domestic animals to
ensure that:
(a)
their dog, cat or domestic animal is not permitted to run at large;
(b)
their dog, cat or domestic animal is not permitted to howl, bark excessively
or in any other manner disturb the quiet of any person(s). Any person(s) so
aggrieved may provide a witness statement and swear out a statement
charging the owner with a breach of this bylaw.
5.
(a)
The owner or person in care or control of an animal shall ensure that the
animal does not become a public nuisance by:
i.
Biting or chasing a person or persons;
ii.
Biting, barking at or chasing livestock, bicycles, automobiles or other
vehicles;
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 5 of 9
iii.
Causing damage to property or other animals, or causing the death
of any other animal;
iv.
Keeping a female which is in season at any location where the dog or
cat is a source of attraction to other dogs or cats; or
v.
Allowing a vicious dog to run at large.
(b)
An owner whose animal defecates on property other than his own or vacant
undeveloped Town owned property shall remove immediately any
defecated matter deposited.
(c)
The owner of any property where an animal is kept shall maintain such
property at all times in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive condition.
(d)
No dog, cat or domestic animal suffering from a communicable disease shall
be allowed to come into contact with animals or humans in a public place
other than the owner's property or a veterinarian. The owner of a diseased
animal shall ensure that it is locked up securely.
(e)
The owner shall confine within a building or secure enclosure every fierce,
dangerous or vicious dog and not take the dog out of the building or secure
enclosure unless the dog is securely muzzled and leashed.
(f)
Any dog that bites a person shall be promptly reported to the Animal
Control Officer and may then be quarantined at the direction of the Animal
Control Officer. The dog shall not get released from the quarantine or
destroyed except by written permission of a veterinarian. At the discretion of
the Animal Control Officer, the quarantine may be on the premises of the
owner or in the Town animal shelter.
(g)
Upon demand made by the Animal Control Officer or peace officer, the
owner shall immediately surrender any dog that has bitten a human, or that is
suspected of having been exposed to rabies, for supervised quarantine (for a
period not exceeding fourteen (14) days) which expense shall be borne by
the owner. The dog may be reclaimed by the owner, if judged free of rabies,
on payment of the confinement expenses and on compliance with the
licensing provision of this bylaw.
6.
No person shall:
(a)
hinder, delay or obstruct any person or persons employed by the Town
engaged in taking to the pound any dog, cat or domestic animal liable to be
impounded under the provisions of this bylaw;
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 6 of 9
(b)
remove or attempt to remove any dog, cat or domestic animal from the
possession of the Animal Control Officer or a peace officer or any other
person authorized to enforce any of the provisions of this bylaw;
(c)
unlock, unlatch or otherwise open the pound van or vehicle in which animals
have been placed for impoundment, allowing the dogs, cats or domestic
animals to escape capture;
(d)
induce or persuade any dog, cat or domestic animal to enter a house or
other place where it may be safe from capture by the animal control office or
other authorized person(s), or otherwise assist any dog, cat or domestic
animal to escape capture;
(e)
Negligently or willfully open any gate, door or other opening in a fence or
enclosure in which a dog, cat or domestic animal has been confined, or
otherwise obstruct any dog, cat or domestic animal's confinement, thereby
allowing the animal to run at large;
(f)
Tease, torment or annoy a dog, cat or domestic animal or deliberately or
willfully and with malicious intent injure, hurt or otherwise harm any animal;
(g)
Operate a kennel in any residential district in the Town. Kennel requirements
are subject to the Town of Two Hills Land Use Bylaw;
(h)
Lead, ride or drive livestock on any sidewalk, boulevard, street or parkland in
the Town unless permission has been granted subject to the Town of Two
Hills Traffic Bylaw;
(i)
Have domestic animals unless otherwise specified in this Bylaw, within the
Town boundaries in private residences within a residential area, shall be
limited to a maximum of two (2), of any species. Any animals in excess of this
number are to be disposed of by the owner and the owner shall be solely
responsible for the costs incurred as a result of the said disposal and shall not
hold the Town responsible in any manner whether civilly or criminally as a
result of an order for the removal of said animal or animals; or
(j)
Have, maintain, raise or feed livestock, including bees, pigs, cows, horses,
and pigeons.
IMPOUNDMENT
7.
(a)
It shall be the responsibility of the CAO to establish, make provisions for or
enter into an agreement to provide an animal shelter for the impounding
and keeping of dogs, cats and other domestic animals captured
(b)
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer or a person(s) authorized to
capture or trap, in a humane trap, all dogs, cats and domestic animals found
running at large. The dog, cat or domestic animal shall be impounded to the
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 7 of 9
specified animal shelter and shall be kept there subject to the owner's or
harbourer's right to redeem the animal within three (3) from the time of
capture. The dogs, cats or domestic animals shall not be released from the
pound unless the owner or harbourer can present, to the satisfaction of the
pound keeper that the specified impoundment fees have been paid and the
necessary clearance from the Animal Control Officer, a peace office or the
Town's Chief Administrative Office or their designate has been obtained.
(c)
Each dog, cat or domestic animal impounded under the provisions of this
bylaw shall be subject to impounding fees as set out in attached Schedule
"A". If the dog, cat or domestic animal is unclaimed within three (3) days
from the time of capture, the dog, cat or domestic animal shall be destroyed
in a humane manner or otherwise disposed of through sale or gift.
(d)
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer, to the best of their abilities,
to ascertain the name of the owner of any impounded dog, cat or domestic
animal. The Animal Control Officer shall inform the owner of the
impoundment as soon as practically possible.
(e)
It shall be the duty of the Animal Control Officer to report any apparent
illness, communicable disease, injury, unhealthy condition or otherwise
distressful signs exhibited by any dog, cat or domestic animal to a
veterinarian or the S.P.C.A. The owner or former owner, if known, shall be
held responsible for all charges resulting from any veterinarian examination,
action or extended retention to the animal in question.
CONVICTIONS AND PENALTIES
8.
(a)
A person is a party to and guilty of an offence who:
i.
actually commits the offence, or
ii.
does or omits an act for the purpose of aiding or abetting a person
to commit an offence, or
iii.
counsels or procures a person to commit an offence.
(b)
Any person who contravenes any provision of this bylaw is guilty of an
offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine as set out in Schedule
"A" of this bylaw.
(c)
The Animal Control Officer is hereby authorized and empowered to issue a
violation notice, form or infraction ticket to any person who contravenes any
provision of this bylaw. The notice, form or infraction ticket may be issued by
either serving it to the accused personally or by leaving it at his or her last
known place of residence or by regular mail.
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 8 of 9
Payment of the specified fine is accepted in lieu of prosecution. If payment is not
received within thirty (30) days, the Animal Control Officer or peace officer are
hereby authorized and empowered to issue a summons for the offence.
All licenses, fines and pound fees are to be paid by cash, certified cheque or money
order before any dog, cat or domestic animal is to be released from the animal
shelter.
TRANSITIONAL
9.
Should any provision of this Bylaw be found void or unenforceable, then it is the
express intention of Council that such void or unenforceable sections be severed
from this Bylaw and the balance remain in full force and effect.
REPEAL OF OLD BYLAWS
10. Bylaw 2021-1006 and all amendments thereto is hereby repealed.
DATE OF EFFECT
11. This Bylaw shall take effect on the final passing thereof by Council.
READ a first time this 23rd day of January, 2024.
READ a second time this 23rd day of January, 2024.
READ a third time and finally passed this 23rd day of January, 2024.
TOWN OF TWO HILLS
LEONARD EWANISHAN
MAYOR
ADAM KOZAKIEWICZ
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
BYLAW NO. 2024-1038
Page 9 of 9
SCHEDULE "A"
LICENSING:
FEE
1.
License for each neutered or spayed dog or cat
$ 10.00
2.
License for each unaltered dog or cat
$ 50.00
3.
License Tag Replacement
$ 2.00
4.
Kennel License
$ 100.00
5.
Shelter/impound Fees (per day or any part thereof)
$ 50.00/day
Senior Citizens pay fifty (50) percent of the fees set out in 1, 2 & 4 above.
PENALTIES
SECTIONS OFFENCE
FINE
Administrative Fee
$ 50.00
3. (a) Failing to obtain a dog or cat license
$ 100.00
3. (j)
Harbouring more than two (2) dogs and/or two (2) cats
$ 60.00
3. (j)
Failing to obtain a kennel license
$ 100.00
4. (a) Allowing a dog, cat or other domestic animal to run at large $ 75.00
4. (b) Permitting a dog or cat to disturb the peace of other persons $ 75.00
5. (a) (v) Allowing a vicious dog to run at large
$ 250.00
5. (b) Failing to remove dog, cat or other domestic animal defecation
from another's property
$ 75.00
5. (c) Failing to keep property in a clean, sanitary and inoffensive $ 200.00
condition.
6. (f) Tormenting or teasing a dog, cat or other domestic animal $ 200.00
6. (f) Harming an animal
$ 200.00